Contents
Overview 1
Understanding Virtual Cubes 2
Obtaining Logical Results 4
Building a Virtual Cube 5
Lab A: Creating Virtual Cubes 10
Creating Calculated Members 14
Lab B: Adding Calculated Members to a
Virtual Cube 16
Review 19

Module 12: Working
with Virtual Cubes

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Instructor Notes
A virtual cube is an online analytical processing (OLAP) cube that combines or
extracts data from one or more source cubes. These cubes are called virtual
because they consume no disk storage, other than metadata. In this module,
students learn when to use virtual cubes and the mechanics of how to build

them in Microsoft
®
SQL Server
™
2000 Analysis Services.
After completing this module, students will be able to:
!
Understand when to use virtual cubes and know their benefits.
!
Know the rules for constructing meaningful virtual cubes.
!
Build virtual cubes by using the Virtual Cube Wizard.
!
Define calculated members in virtual cubes by using the Calculated Member
Builder.

Materials and Preparation
This section lists the required materials and preparation tasks that you need to
teach this module.
Required Materials
To teach this module, you need Microsoft PowerPoint
®
file 2074A_12.ppt.

Preparation Tasks
To prepare for this module, you should:
!
Read all of the student materials for this module.
!
Read the instructor notes and margin notes.

!
Complete the labs.
!
Review the Trainer Preparation presentation for this module on the Trainer
Materials compact disc.
!
Review any relevant white papers that are located on the Trainer Materials
compact disc.
Presentation:
25 Minutes

Labs:
20 Minutes
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Other Activities
Difficult Questions
Below are difficult questions that students may ask you during the delivery of
this module and answers to the questions. There materials delve into subjects
that are within the scope of the module but are not specifically addressed in the
content of the student notes.
1. How does the enabling or disabling of levels in the source cube affect the
enabling or disabling of levels in the virtual cube?
Enabling or disabling levels in the source cube does not affect the
enabling or disabling of levels in the virtual cube. Levels in the source
cube are completely separate from levels in the virtual cube, so that,
when users are using a virtual cube, they can access members for

querying or for creating calculations down to the lowest level in the
dimension, regardless of level enabling or disabling in the source cube.
2. Can you add a virtual dimension to a virtual cube without also adding the
dimension on which the virtual dimension depends?
No. When you add a virtual dimension to a virtual cube, the regular
dimension is added to the virtual cube automatically.
3. Can you base virtual cubes on linked cubes?
Yes.
4. When you process a source cube, are all virtual cubes that use the source
cube data automatically processed?
No.
5. Can a virtual cube combine source cubes that use multidimensional OLAP
(MOLAP), relational OLAP (ROLAP), and hybrid OLAP (HOLAP) storage
modes?
Yes.

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Module Strategy
Use the following strategy to present this module:
!
Understanding Virtual Cubes
Begin with a definition of virtual cubes and describe their characteristics.
Discuss virtual cube limitations and storage.
!
Obtaining Logical Results
Explain that, when building a virtual cube from more than one source cube,
students must follow some simple rules to obtain logical results. Explain

that they need to use dimensions and measures that the source cubes have in
common—otherwise there is no analytical value in combining the cubes.
!
Building a Virtual Cube
Introduce students to the Virtual Cube Wizard. While giving the lecture,
open the Virtual Cube Wizard on your computer and show students the
various interfaces. Describe the steps involved in creating a virtual cube—
choosing the source cube, choosing the measures, choosing the dimensions,
and finalizing the cube.
!
Creating Calculated Members
Explain that calculated members can be added to virtual cubes by using the
Virtual Cube Editor. Describe the different ways to add calculated members
to virtual cubes—creating calculated members and importing them.


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Overview
!
Understanding Virtual Cubes
!
Obtaining Logical Results
!
Building a Virtual Cube
!
Creating Calculated Members



A virtual cube is an online analytical processing (OLAP) cube that combines or
extracts data from one or more source cubes. These cubes are called virtual
because they consume no disk storage other than metadata. In this module, you
will learn when to use virtual cubes and the mechanics of how to build them in
Microsoft
®
SQL Server
™
2000 Analysis Services.
After completing this module, you will be able to:
!
Understand when to use virtual cubes and know their benefits.
!
Know the rules for constructing meaningful virtual cubes.
!
Build virtual cubes by using the Virtual Cube Wizard.
!
Define calculated members in virtual cubes by using the Calculated Member
Builder.

Topic Objective
To provide an overview of
the module topics and
objectives.
Lead-in
In this module, you will learn
about virtual cubes and how
to create them.
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Understanding Virtual Cubes
!
Virtual Cube Characteristics
#
Combine data from multiple cubes
#
Provide users with a subset of a single cube
#
Are used to limit user access to cube data
!
Dimension Limitations
#
Cannot slice dimensions
#
Cannot include only some of a dimension’s levels
!
Storage and Performance
#
Can include MOLAP, ROLAP, and HOLAP cubes
#
Provide endless cube flexibility


A virtual cube is a cube that combines or extracts data from one or more source
cubes. In many respects, a virtual cube is to Analysis Server what a view is to a
relational database management system (RDBMS)—it provides a different view
of the underlying data without storing any additional data except the metadata

that defines the virtual cube.

This module defines virtual cubes as being derived from source cubes.
Source cubes are the cubes from which a virtual cube is derived.

Virtual Cube Characteristics
To users and applications, a virtual cube is simply a cube. It looks and behaves
exactly like a source cube. A virtual cube can be used to:
!
Combine data from two or more source cubes. For example, a cube
containing sales data might be combined with a cube containing forecasts to
measure actual sales versus forecast sales.

If a virtual cube is based on more than one source cube, when the
virtual cube is queried, it queries the source cubes in parallel.

A virtual cube can combine up to 64 source cubes.
!
Provide users with a subset of the dimensions and measures from a single
source cube. This is useful when a source cube contains a great many
measures and dimensions, and a group of users is interested in only a subset.
!
Provide users with a subset of the dimensions and measures from a single
source cube as a security measure. For instance, the source cube might
contain a profit measure that certain users or groups of users are not allowed
to see.

Topic Objective
To introduce the
characteristics, limitations,

and storage of virtual cubes.
Lead-in
A virtual cube combines or
extracts data from one or
more source cubes. In many
respects, a virtual cube is to
Analysis Server what a view
is to a relational database
management system
(RDBMS).
Note
Note
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There is no limit to the number of virtual cubes that can be defined in a
database.
Dimension Limitations
Following are limitations of virtual cubes:
!
Virtual cubes cannot slice the dimensions of the source cubes. For example,
suppose a source cube contains the dimension Region. If Region is placed
in a virtual cube, the entire dimension is included. You cannot include only
the Western region.
!
You cannot choose which levels of the dimension are included. For
example, you cannot include summary levels and exclude bottom-level
members. The entire dimension, with all levels, must be included.


The Measures dimension is an exception to these rules. You can pick the
specific measures that populate a virtual cube.
Storage and Performance
Because virtual cubes consume no disk space, they rely on the underlying
storage of the source cubes. Therefore:
!
A single virtual cube can include multidimensional OLAP (MOLAP),
relational OLAP (ROLAP), and hybrid OLAP (HOLAP) source cubes.
!
Because a single source cube can contain MOLAP, ROLAP, and HOLAP
partitions, there is endless flexibility in designing virtual cubes.

Virtual cubes automatically use aggregations from the source cubes. The
performance overhead imposed by the virtual cube on top of the source cubes is
negligible.

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Obtaining Logical Results


When building a virtual cube based on more than one source cube, you must
follow some simple rules to obtain logical results.
Common dimensions and measures are required from source cubes:
!
The source cubes should contain one or more shared dimensions that are the
same, and at least one of the common shared dimensions should be included

in the virtual cube.
!
Analysis Manager does not enforce this rule, but the result will be
nonsensical if it is not followed. This can be easily visualized from the
preceding spreadsheet illustration. The first cube contains region and time
dimensions. The second cube contains sales representatives and scenario
dimensions. Because the two cubes have nothing in common, it makes no
sense to base a virtual cube on them.

There is no analytical value in combining cubes if they do not share a
dimension.

!
Include at least one measure from each source cube in the virtual cube or
there is no reason to combine the cubes. Again, Analysis Manager will not
prevent you from doing this.


Topic Objective
To explain the importance of
using common measures
and dimensions from the
source cubes.
Lead-in
When building a virtual cube
based on more than one
source cube, you must
follow some simple rules to
obtain logical results.
Delivery Tips

Explain the preceding
illustration by comparing two
cubes with different
dimensionality. Combining
them into a virtual cube
would produce nonsensical
results.
Note
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$
$$
$

Building a Virtual Cube
!
Choosing the Source Cubes
!
Choosing the Measures
!
Choosing the Dimensions
!
Finalizing the Virtual Cube


You build a virtual cube simply by using the Virtual Cube Wizard. To display
the wizard, right-click the Cubes folder and then click New Virtual Cube.

Topic Objective
To go through the steps of
creating a virtual cube.
Lead-in
To create a virtual cube, you
use the Virtual Cube
Wizard.
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Choosing the Source Cubes


At the first step of the Virtual Cube Wizard, select the source cube or cubes
from which the virtual cube will be derived.

Remember that if you select multiple source cubes, these cubes should
have at least one shared dimension in common.

To select a source cube, either click a cube from the Available cubes box and
then click the arrow (>), or double-click the cube. To select all the cubes, click
the double arrow (>>). The names of the selected cubes appear in the Virtual
cube includes box. To remove a cube from this list, either click the cube and
then click the back arrow (<), or double click the cube in the Virtual cube
includes box.

Topic Objective
To show how to choose
source cubes for a virtual

cube.
Lead-in
The first step in creating a
virtual cube is to select the
source cube or cubes for the
virtual cube.
Delivery Tip
Enhance your lecture by
opening the Virtual Cube
Wizard and showing
students the corresponding
interfaces.

Encourage students to
follow along with your
demonstration on their
computers.
Tip
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Choosing the Measures


The next step is to add measures to the virtual cube. The wizard displays the
measures from the selected source cube or cubes in the Available measures
box.

Remember to include at least one measure from each source cube. The

source cube name appears in the second column of the Available Measures
box.

To select a measure, either click a measure from the Available measures box
and then click the arrow (>), or double-click the measure. To select all the
measures, click the double arrow (>>). The names of the selected measures
appear in the Selected measures box. To remove a measure from this list,
either click the measure and then click the back arrow (<), or double click the
measure in the Selected measures box.

Topic Objective
To show how to select
measures for a virtual cube.
Lead-in
The next step is to add
measures to the virtual
cube.
Delivery Tip
Encourage students to
follow along with your
informal demonstration on
their computers.
Tip
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Choosing the Dimensions



Next, choose the dimensions. The wizard displays the dimensions from the
selected source cube or cubes in the Available dimensions box.

If the virtual cube is based on more than one source cube, you must select
at least one shared dimension in common between the cubes to obtain a logical
result.

To select a dimension, either click a dimension from the Available dimensions
box and then click the arrow (>) or double-click the dimension. To select all the
dimensions, click the double arrow (>>). The names of the selected dimensions
appear in the Selected dimensions box. To remove a dimension from this list,
either click the dimension and then click the back arrow (<) or double-click the
dimension in the Selected dimensions box.
The list of dimensions includes all virtual dimensions defined in the source
cubes. A virtual dimension can be placed in a virtual cube. The dimension from
which it is derived will be placed in the virtual cube automatically. You cannot
include a virtual dimension in a virtual cube without also including the
dimension on which it is based.
Topic Objective
To show how to choose
dimensions for a virtual
cube.
Lead-in
The next step is to choose
the dimensions for the
virtual cube.
Delivery Tip
Encourage students to
follow along with your
informal demonstration on

their computers.
Tip
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Finalizing the Virtual Cube


The last steps are to name the cube and process it. Because a virtual cube
contains no data, it processes quickly. Type the name of the virtual cube in the
Virtual cube name box and then decide when to process the cube—now or
later. Click the appropriate radio button and then click Finish.

If the source cubes or dimensions are not available at the time of
processing a virtual cube, the Analysis Server processes the cubes and
dimensions automatically as part of the virtual cube process.


Topic Objective
To explain how to name and
process a virtual cube.
Lead-in
The last two steps are to
name the cube and process
it.
Delivery Tip
Encourage students to
follow along with your

informal demonstration on
their computers.
Note
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Lab A: Creating Virtual Cubes


Objectives
After completing this lab, you will be able to:
!
Create a virtual cube that is a subset of an existing cube.
!
Create a virtual cube from multiple source cubes.

Prerequisites
Before working on this lab, you must have:
!
Experience working with Analysis Manager.
!
An understanding of virtual cubes.



Estimated time to complete this lab: 10 minutes
Topic Objective
To introduce the lab.

Lead-in
In this lab, you will create
two virtual cubes. You first
will create a virtual cube as
a subset of a source cube.
You will then create a virtual
cube from two source
cubes.
Explain the lab objectives.
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Exercise 1
Creating the Basic Sales Virtual Cube
In this exercise, you will build a virtual cube, Basic Sales, that is a subset of the
Sales cube. This virtual cube does not contain certain sensitive data, such as
Sales by Employee. By giving users access to the Basic Sales virtual cube
instead of the Sales cube, you can limit their access to certain data.
!
To restore a new database and define a data source
1. In Analysis Manager, right-click the server, click Restore Database, click
the Look in list, find and click the file
C:\Moc\2074A\Labfiles\L12\Module 12.CAB, click Open, click Restore,
and then click Close.
2. To expand the database, double-click Module 12.
3. Double-click the Data Sources folder below Module 12, right-click the
Module 12 data source, and then click Edit.
4. In the Data Link Properties dialog box, click the Connection tab, and then

verify that localhost is selected in step 1.
5. In step 2, verify that Use Windows NT Integrated security is selected.
6. In step 3, verify that Module 12 is selected.
7. Click Test Connection and verify that the test succeeded, click OK, and
then click OK to exit the Data Link Properties dialog box.

!
To start the Virtual Cube Wizard
1. In the Module 12 database, right-click the Cubes folder, and then click
New Virtual Cube.
2. To bypass the welcome page, click Next.

!
To select the source cube
• In the Available cubes box, double-click the Sales cube, and then click
Next.
The wizard shows the regular measures (not calculated members) in the
selected database.

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!
To select measures and dimensions
1. In the Available measures box, double-click the following measures:
• Sales Units
• Sales Dollars
2. Click Next.
3. In the Available dimensions box, double-click the following dimensions:

• Time.Calendar
• Product
• State
4. Click Next.

!
To finalize the cube
1. Type Basic Sales in the Virtual cube name box, click Process now, and
then click Finish. Close the Process dialog box.
The Virtual Cube Wizard leaves you in the Virtual Cube Editor.
2. Browse the cube data, and then close the Virtual Cube Editor.


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Exercise 2
Creating the Actual and Forecast Cube
In this exercise, you will build a virtual cube combining the Sales and Sales
Forecast cubes. The Sales cube contains sales information and the Sales
Forecast cube contains forecast information. You will combine the two cubes
to compare forecast units with sales units.
!
To start the Virtual Cube Wizard
1. In the Module 12 database, right-click the Cubes folder, and then click
New Virtual Cube.
2. To bypass the welcome page, click Next.

!

To select the source cubes
• In the Available cubes box, double-click the Sales cube, and then double-
click the Sales Forecast cube. Click Next.

!
To select measures and dimensions
1. In the Available measures box, double-click the following measures:
• Sales Units from the Sales cube.
• Sales Units from the Sales Forecast cube.
You want to compare the same measure from two different cubes. Note that,
because the virtual cube requires a unique name for each measure, the
wizard names the second Sales Units measure Sales Units 1.
2. To rename the Sales Units 1 measure, click it, and then press F2.
3. When the name appears highlighted, type Forecast Units as the new name
for the measure. Click Next.
4. In the Available dimensions box, double-click the following dimensions:
• Product
• Time.Calendar
• Scenario
5. Click Next.

!
To finalize the cube
1. Type Actual and Forecast in the Virtual cube name box, click Process
now, and then click Finish. Close the Process dialog box.
The Virtual Cube Wizard leaves you in the Virtual Cube Editor.
2. Notice the cube intersections where no data exists.
3. Browse the cube data, and then close the Virtual Cube Editor.



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Creating Calculated Members


You can create calculated members in virtual cubes. In addition, you can import
calculated members from the source cubes. The interface for managing
calculated members in virtual cubes is very similar to the interface used in
regular cubes.
Working with the Virtual Cube Editor
After you create a virtual cube, it appears in the list of cubes below the Cubes
folder in Analysis Manager. If you need to edit a virtual cube, right-click the
cube and then click Edit. The Virtual Cube Editor opens.
The Virtual Cube Editor is similar to the Cube Editor that you use to manage
regular cubes.
!
Like the Cube Editor, the Virtual Cube Editor contains the cube tree view
and the Properties pane.
!
Whereas the Cube Editor has a schema and data pane, the Virtual Cube
Editor has only a data pane containing the Cube Browser.
!
You can create new calculated members, calculated cells, actions, and
named sets in the Cube Editor and the Virtual Cube Editor.
!
In addition to creating new calculated members, calculated cells, actions,
and named sets, you can import these objects into virtual cubes by using the

Virtual Cube Editor.
!
As in the Cube Editor, when you create new calculated members in the
Virtual Cube Editor, you use the Calculated Member Builder to define and
edit the calculations.
Topic Objective
To explain how to create
calculated members in a
virtual cube.
Lead-in
You can create or import
calculated members in
virtual cubes.
Delivery Tip
Encourage students to
follow along with your
informal demonstration on
their computers.
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Importing Calculated Members
As you modify a virtual cube, you can reuse calculations created in the source
cubes. You import the calculations into the virtual cube by using the Virtual
Cube Editor.

In addition to calculated members, you can also import calculated cells,
actions, and named sets defined in the source cubes. For more information on
actions, see module 14, “Using Actions, Drillthrough, and Writeback,” in

course 2074A, Designing and Implementing OLAP Solutions with Microsoft
SQL Server 2000.

To import calculated members into a virtual cube by using the Virtual Cube
Editor, right-click the Calculated Members folder and click Import
Calculated Member. This opens the Import Calculated Members dialog box.
From this dialog box, you can select individual or all calculated members from
source cubes.
As you import a calculated member into a virtual cube, the Virtual Cube Editor
verifies that the syntax remains correct in the new cube definition. All
measures, dimensions, and members defined in the calculated member must
exist in the virtual cube for the calculated member to be valid.
If you receive an error when importing a calculated member, the Virtual Cube
Editor indicates the problem, but still imports the calculated member so that
you can edit the calculation if you choose.
If the syntax is incorrect, edit calculated members in the Virtual Cube Editor by
right-clicking the imported calculated member that requires editing and then
clicking Edit.

Note
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Lab B: Adding Calculated Members to a Virtual Cube


Objectives
After completing this lab, you will be able to:

!
Create a calculated member in a virtual cube.
!
Import a calculated member into a virtual cube.

Prerequisites
Before working on this lab, you must have:
!
Experience working with Analysis Manager.
!
An understanding of virtual cubes.
!
An understanding of calculated members.
!
Experience working with the Calculated Member Builder.

Lab Setup
To complete this lab, you need the following:
!
To have completed lab A, Creating Virtual Cubes, found earlier in the
module.

Estimated time to complete this lab: 10 minutes
Topic Objective
To introduce the lab.
Lead-in
In this lab, you will create a
calculated member in the
Actual and Forecast virtual
cube. In addition, you will

import a calculated member
from the Sales source cube.
Explain the lab objectives.
Module 12: Working with Virtual Cubes 17

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Exercise 1
Creating a Calculated Member
In this exercise, you will create a calculated member in a virtual cube. When
you create a virtual cube from multiple source cubes, include at least one
measure from each source cube. Often, it makes sense to create a calculated
member to compare the measures. In this case, you will create a calculated
member in the Actual and Forecast virtual cube that subtracts Sales Units
from Forecast Units.
!
To open the Virtual Cube Editor
• In the Module 12 database, right-click the Actual and Forecast virtual
cube, and then click Edit.
The Virtual Cube Editor opens.

!
To create a calculated member
1. In the Virtual Cube Editor, on the toolbar, click Insert Calculated
Member.
The Calculated Member Builder opens.
2. Type Delta Units in the Member name box.
3. Expand Measures and MeasuresLevel in the Data box. Double-click
Forecast Units, click the minus sign (-), and then double-click Sales Units.

Click OK.
4. Browse the cube data.

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Exercise 2
Importing a Calculated Member
In this exercise, you will import a calculated member from a source cube into a
virtual cube. The virtual cube must include any members used by the calculated
member. The Sales cube contains a calculated member called Average Units,
which uses the Sales Units and Count measures. In this exercise, you will
import the Average Units calculated member from the Sales cube into the
Actual and Forecast virtual cube.
!
To import a calculated member
1. In the Virtual Cube Editor, click Import Calculated Members.
The Import Calculated Members dialog box opens.
2. Select the Average Units check box, and then click OK.
You receive an error after the import. The Average Units calculated
member from the Sales cube uses the Count measure in the calculation.
However, the Actual and Forecast virtual cube does not contain the Count
measure. You will add the Count measure before finishing the Average
Units calculated member.
3. Click OK.

!
To add the Count measure

1. In the Virtual Cube Editor, right-click the Measures folder, and then click
Edit Structure (Wizard).
2. Click Yes to save the virtual cube.
The Virtual Cube Wizard opens.
3. Click Next when asked to select the source cubes.
4. In the Available measures pane, double-click Count. Click Next twice,
click Finish, and close the Process dialog box.
5. Browse the cube, and notice that Average Units appears in the cube
browser and is retrieving correct data.
Also, notice that the Count measure is not visible in the virtual cube. The
Visible property value of Count from the Sales cube persists in the virtual
cube.
6. Close the Virtual Cube Editor.


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Review
!
Understanding Virtual Cubes
!
Obtaining Logical Results
!
Building a Virtual Cube
!
Creating Calculated Members



1. Does a virtual cube consume disk storage?
No, except for the underlying metadata defining the virtual cube.


2. Can you specify the levels in a shared dimension that display in a virtual
cube?
No. A shared dimension added to a virtual cube must include all
defined levels. You cannot include only some of the levels.


3. Is it possible to build a virtual cube when the source cubes do not contain a
dimension in common?
Yes, but it is not recommended.


4. Where do you create and import calculated members in virtual cubes?
In the Virtual Cube Editor.


Topic Objective
To reinforce module
objectives by reviewing key
points.
Lead-in
The review questions cover
some of the key concepts
taught in the module.